Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti would prefer to rest his £85m asset as the Spanish giants approach a punishing spell of 11 games in five weeks as they fight for three trophies.

But Coleman said: “I’m looking for him to play the whole game. It may be a friendly but we have to go into it with the right attitude.

“That means not only trying to win, but starting with our strongest team, and while of course if we get the chance to make changes we might do, that will depend only on the position of the game.”

Bale spent Monday working with the Welsh medical team to complete his recovery from a brutal 2-2 draw against Madrid rival Atletico.

Ironically Bale did play 90 minutes for Wales in a friendly against Finland back in November – but that was with Madrid’s blessing because they wanted him to use the game to get fit. Now they would prefer him to be rested.

A REAL STAR: Bale has adapted well to life at the Bernabeu [GETTY]

Coleman admitted: “I watched the Madrid derby and I was wincing at some of the tackles.

“But I spoke to him last night and he feels good. I thought it might be tough for him to settle because he didn’t have a pre-season, but he’s come up to the level quickly.

“He’s scored ten goals in 15 starts in the League and that tells you everything about how well he has done.”

“I am excited going into this new campaign, we have got good enough players and if we get them together often enough I believe we will be successful”

Chris Coleman

Coleman will have skipper Ashley Williams available, the Swansea defender having recovered from an illness that affected him so badly he was physically sick on the pitch during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Swansea boss Garry Monks wanted him to sit out this game to recover, but Williams said: “I can understand where he is coming from, but he knows that if I am fit I will be out on the pitch.”

Coleman added: “I am excited going into this new campaign, we have got good enough players and if we get them together often enough I believe we will be successful.

“Iceland represents a great test because they finished second in their World Cup group and have shown what a smaller country can do if they get all their players together regularly.”